Getting a bikini body isn't for wimps

Miss Michigan Kirsten Haglund competes in a swimsuit contest during the preliminary competition for the Miss America Pageant.

Kourtney Kardashian makes gearing up for bikini season look so darned fun and easy. In a recent issue of Life & Style magazine, she explains that she drinks a lot of water, works out with 2-pound dumbbells (while wearing a fun leopard-print T-shirt) and has dropped her chai lattes in favor of espresso shots to save calories.

If you believe the glossy magazines that insist this is what it takes to drop 10 to 20 pounds and deflate your muffin top, we've got a timeshare on the Gulf of Mexico we'd like to sell you.

The reality? Brace yourselves for several weeks of sacrifice and deprivation, beginning with working out six days a week, twice a day — yes, twice — in a demanding routine of cardio and strength training. Add to that a strict diet regimen that leaves little room for cupcakes and Twizzlers. And those two post-work glasses of wine? Don't even think about it.

"Some people have an unrealistic expectation of what getting into shape for summer really entails," says Fred Engelfried, a trainer at the Sports Club/LA. "They think that working out three days a week is going to make that happen. The truth of the matter is that to take off 2 pounds per week, people need to be consistent across the board."

Eat wisely

Diet is where most people get derailed, despite their best efforts, says Kara Mohr, an exercise physiologist and co-owner of a nutrition and fitness facility in Louisville, Ky. "People will say they're doing everything they can, but it's always the little nibbles here and there that get them, since they don't realize how much those things add up."

Let's do the math: Mohr recommends eating 1,200 to 1,500 calories a day. That innocent little blueberry muffin you had for breakfast has about 400 calories, or one-third to one-fourth of your total daily calories. It's also guaranteed to provide a nasty blood sugar crash later on, prompting a binge on more empty calories. Ergo, if you eat more foods with bulk and vitamins (i.e. fruit and oatmeal), you won't be starving or nutritionally bankrupt.

Most dietitians and nutrition experts suggest planning meals that include copious fruit and vegetables (without added sugar or butter), lean proteins (which provide a feeling of satiety) such as fish and chicken, low-fat or nonfat dairy, and healthful fats such as avocados and nuts. Whole grains are better than refined, but watch portions.

Watch portions

Mohr advises weighing and measuring food cooked at home to make sure serving sizes don't slowly creep up. A typical serving of protein should be about 2 to 3 ounces, or the size of a deck of cards — not the size of a shoe, which is what most restaurants provide.

Keeping a food diary is another smart way to spot trouble zones, such as mindless snacking while watching TV.

This can be done easily with phone apps that track calories. Eating small meals every three to four hours keeps blood glucose levels elevated so the body burns fat — not muscle — for energy, says Engelfried. Snacking on complex carbs and protein before exercising will keep the metabolism high and provide enough energy to get through a workout.

Scheduling one splurge day per week is allowed, but don't go overboard.

Work out — a lot

The exercise part of this process is just as rigorous. Plan to work out six days a week, and break those up into two daily sessions, if possible, 30 minutes to one hour maximum each.

Trainers recommend doing both cardio (five to six days a week) and strength training (two to four days a week). If exercise hasn't been in the picture for a while, start slowly and build up — doing too much too soon increases the risk of injury and illness.

Incorporate interval training two to three times a week, alternating between short bouts of moderate- to high-intensity exercise in the same workout. This not only supplies a whopping calorie burn but also improves the cardiovascular system.

Vary routines

For strength training, doing a circuit of functional exercises that targets numerous muscles elevates the heart rate and produces lean, toned muscles. Engelfried suggests starting with a 10-minute cardio warm-up, then doing a series of several minute-long multifunction exercises.

That might be combining a forward lunge with a bicep curl (using dumbbells), then coming up to a standing position and doing an overhead press. The core is always engaged, and several muscles are firing to complete each exercise. Changing up routines staves off boredom and exercise ruts, shocking the body so it can build new muscle tissue.

As for how much weight to lift, go with what's challenging but not so difficult you can't complete a set. Donavanik likes to break up his routines into three to four mini-circuits, or nine to 12 exercises.

Taking a rest day and getting enough sleep are crucial for letting muscles repair.

Even the most committed types can find their motivation flagging after a few weeks. Being beholden to a trainer — even once a week — can keep enthusiasm high.